Planning Proposals

Land rezoning is a formal process that amends the planning controls relating to a parcel(s) of land. Rezoning land can result in an increase or decrease to the range of permissible uses on the subject land or change the development standards that are applicable. Land can only be rezoned through a formal amendment to the current statutory planning controls which is the Willoughby Local Environmental Plan 2012.

What is a Local Environmental Plan (LEP)?

A Local Environmental Plan (LEP) is prepared by Council to guide planning decisions for the local government area and is principally made up of a written instrument and associated maps. Through zoning and development standards, it allows Council to supervise the ways in which land is used. Specifically, the LEP states whether development:

is permissible on the land;

is subject to specific restrictions, including controls on height, minimum land area and floor space;

requires consent of Council.

An LEP is prepared in accordance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act 1979), and Environmental Planning & Assessment Regulations 2000 and is approved by the Minister for Planning and Environment.

LEPs apply to a particular area, generally the whole, or part of a local government area. An LEP applying to a whole local government area is referred to as the principal LEP. The process for making a principal LEP and for amending a principal LEP is the same. That is, in order to amend a principal LEP, it is necessary to make another LEP. For convenience, an LEP being made to amend a principal LEP is referred to as an amending LEP.

Planning Proposal to amend the LEP

The preparation of a planning proposal is the first step in making an amendment to the existing LEP. A planning proposal is a document that explains the intended effect of, and justification for, the proposed amendment. Under the new legislation, Council must prepare and submit a planning proposal to the Department of Planning and Environment for consideration of an amendment to the LEP.

A planning proposal must include the following:

A statement of objectives and intended outcomes of the proposal,

An explanation of the provisions that are to be included in the proposal,

A justification of the objectives and outcomes, including the process of how these are to be implemented,

Maps where relevant, to identify the intent of the planning proposal and the area to which it applies

What is the first step in making a Planning Proposal

It should be noted that applications to rezone land are generally not encouraged by Council and should only be submitted in the following circumstances:

Where land cannot be reasonably developed or used under the existing zoning, or

Where development of land in accordance with the existing zone would not be in the public interest

The first step in the process is to talk to a Planner in Council’s Strategic Planning Branch. Staff can explain the process and provide advice specific to the proposal. Strategic Planning Staff can be contacted on 9777 1000.

Council's role

A planning proposal must be formally considered at a Council meeting. Council officers will make a report to Council on the merits of the proposal. Council does not have to support applications for rezoning of land. Similarly, a Council resolution to prepare a planning proposal or an amendment to the LEP does not necessarily guarantee that the proposal or rezoning will proceed.

If Council agrees to proceed with the proposal to rezone land, Council must resolve to support the planning proposal and to forward it the Minister for Planning and Environment for a "Gateway Determination".

Rezoning Reviews

The Rezoning Review mechanism allows proponents to make a request that an independent body review a request for a planning proposal prior to a Gateway determination being issued. Rezoning Reviews are determined by Planning Panels or the Planning Assessment Commission (the Commission).

If a proponent (eg. developer, landowner) has requested that a council prepare a planning proposal, it may ask for a Rezoning Review if:

Council has notified the proponent that the request to prepare a planning proposal is not supported; or

Council has failed to indicate its support 90 days after the proponent submitted a request, accompanied by the required information or has failed to submit a planning proposal for a Gateway determination within a reasonable time after the council has indicated its support.

Gateway Determination

The purpose of the Gateway determination is to ensure there is sufficient justification early in the process to proceed with a planning proposal. The Gateway determination is a checkpoint for planning proposals before resources are committed to carrying out investigative research, preparatory work and consultation with agencies and the community. It enables planning proposals that lack strategic planning merit to be stopped early in the process before time and resources are committed. The Gateway Determination will indicate the following:

whether the planning proposal should proceed (with or without variation)

whether any studies are required and if necessary the scope of these additional studies

whether the planning proposal should be resubmitted for any reason (including for further studies or other information, or for the revision of the planning proposal)

the community consultation required before consideration is given to the making of the proposed instrument (the community consultation requirements)

any consultation required with state or Commonwealth authorities

whether a public hearing is to be held into the matter by the Commission or other specified person or body

the times within which the various stages of the process for making of the proposed LEP are to be completed, and

whether the function of making the LEP is to be exercised by the Minister, Greater Sydney Commission or delegated to the Relevant Planning Authority.

Review of Gateway Determination

A proponent or a council, may request the Minister, Greater Sydney Commission or delegate to alter a Gateway determination when a Gateway determination is made that:

a. the planning proposal should not proceedb. the planning proposal should be re-submitted to the Gateway, orc. imposes requirements (other than consultation requirements) or makes variations to the proposal that the proponent or Council thinks should be reconsidered.

These post-Gateway reviews apply only if the original Gateway determination was made by a delegate of the Minister or Greater Sydney Commission. If the Gateway determination is either to not proceed or to resubmit the planning proposal, the relevant planning authority or proponent has 42 days from being notified by the Department to request a review.

Community Consultation

If the Gateway Determination is that the planning proposal has merit and should proceed, the proposal will be publicly exhibited as specified by the Gateway Determination to obtain the views of the community and referred to State or Commonwealth Public Authorities.

Council will be advised through the Gateway Determination of the appropriate community consultation process for the proposal. This will involve public exhibition of the proposal for either 14 days (for low impact proposals) or 28 days (for other proposals). Council may choose to have a longer exhibition period if in its view additional consultation is warranted. During the exhibition period any person can make a submission concerning the proposal. A public hearing may also be arranged, if the issues raised in submissions are considered by Council to justify a hearing, and a report will be prepared and made public.

Please note that under Section 73A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, some minor changes (such as misdescriptions of property or incorrect map references) to the Council LEP can be made without public exhibition if the Minister agrees. Amendments may also be made without public exhibition that the Minister considers will not have any significant adverse impact on the environment or adjoining land.

i) Where the planning proposal involves a site specific change, the owners of property covered by the planning proposalii) Within Willoughby City, the owners of property adjoining or neighbouring the land covered by the planning proposal who in the opinion of the responsible Council Officer may be affected by the planning proposal if adoptediii) Depending upon the subject matter of the planning proposal, local organisations that might have an interest in the planning proposaliv) A notice of the public exhibition in the North Shore Timesv) A notice on the Council web page

The following planning proposals will not be notified to individual owners in accordance with i) and ii), but will be advertised in the North Shore Times as required by the EPA Act, and on Council’s website:

Amendments to the existing LEP which affect the whole of the city or, in the opinion of the responsible Council Officer, affect a major portion of the City (generally more than 2000 properties);

Amendments to the existing LEP which do not change existing policy, which involve editing changes, changes to definitions or rectifying drafting errors.

In the case of a planning proposal affecting land that adjoins the boundary of the City, the neighbouring Council will be notified.

Submissions

Important Information about making submissions:

Privacy Statement

Read Council’s Privacy Statement with regard to submissions to Council.

Political Donations and Expenditures

All submissions received during the public exhibition will be considered and reported to Council.

Council is not bound to adopt or support a submission.

Submissions received outside the period will not be considered unless the correspondent has requested an extension of the time within the notification period and received approval for the extension. Reasons for seeking the extension must be provided.

Submissions may be made by e-mail, facsimile or mail. Anonymous submissions will be given little or no weight.

Finalisation

The statutory process for making a plan following the issuing of a Gateway determination is the same regardless of whether the matter is delegated to council to finalise or whether the plan will be made by the Minister or Greater Sydney Commission. The principal difference between the two processes is who has responsibility for undertaking the various statutory steps in the plan making process. A Guide to preparing Local Environmental Plans provides an overview of the steps involved.

Online tracking of a Planning Proposal

An online tracking system is available for any person to follow the process of a Planning Proposal once it has been submitted to the Department of Planning and Infrastructure by the Council.

What information needs to be submitted with a Planning Proposal Application?

A planning proposal application to rezone land must be accompanied by a completed Council application form as well as additional information to support the proposal.

Planning proposal applications will require external planning expertise on behalf of the applicant. It is recommended that a town planning consultant be engaged for the preparation of planning proposal applications regardless of whether the proposal is of a minor or major nature. Other specialist consultants may also be needed to provide technical input to the proposal.

The relevant objectives and provisions of the Willoughby Local Environmental Plan 2012,

The provisions of Willoughby Development Control Plan,

Any relevant non-statutory planning document or policy adopted or exhibited by Council (structure plans, concept plans and the like),

Any State Government strategies such as A Plan for Growing Sydney and the Draft North District Plan,

Whether the proposed rezoning is consistent with both the State Government’s and Council’s long-term strategic directions and goals for the area,

The environmental impacts of the proposal,

Whether site contamination, flooding, bushfire or other constraint may restrict the proposed land use of the property,

Any precedent that may be set as the result of the proposed rezoning,

Any submissions from the public, public authorities and/or advice obtained from the various Divisions within Council.

How long does it take for a planning proposal / rezoning application to be approved?

The process for the preparation and assessment of a planning proposal / LEP amendment differs for each proposal, depending on the degree of complexity or issues involved. The Department of Planning and Environment has released benchmark timeframes for approval following a Gateway Determination for the main types of LEPs where they are consistent with the State’s strategic planning framework:

3 months for administrative changes and errors

6 months for minor spot rezonings

12 – 18 months for major land release and urban renewal

24 months for principal LEPs

The timeframe can be longer for complex or controversial issues, or for proposals that are not consistent with the State planning framework.

Fees

If my planning proposal application is refused, will my fee be refunded?

No. There is no refund of fees for an unsuccessful planning proposal application.

What is the role of the public in the planning proposal process?

Once a planning proposal application has been passed by the Gateway, Council will be advised of the relevant community consultation that is to occur. A proposal will be publicly exhibited for a period of either 14 or 28 days, depending on the type of proposal, during which the public can make written submissions in response to the proposal. In addition to placing an advertisement in the local press and on Council’s website advising the community of the exhibition, Council will also notify in writing property owners whom the responsible Council officer considers may be affected by the planning proposal. A public hearing may also be arranged at the discretion of Council or the Minister in response to any issue.

Council must take into consideration submissions from the public when it makes a decision whether or not to proceed with or amend the planning proposal.

Disclosure of Political Donations

All planning proposals and draft LEPs must comply with NSW State Law regarding Political Donations. Under s147 of the EP&A Act 1979, all relevant political donations and gifts must be disclosed by individuals or entities with a relevant financial interest when a planning application is made. A planning application includes a formal request to Council to initiate the making of a LEP. Council has further information on the disclosure of political donations and gifts.